Back Exercises
Back Muscle Anatomy
There are three primary muscles groups in the back - the trapezius muscles in the upper back, the latissimus dorsi muscles in the mid-back, and the erector spinae muscles in the lower back.
There are several other smaller muscles in the back, all of which will be developed by performing exercises that work the three main back muscles.
The latissimus dorsi (also known as the "lats"), lie across the middle section of the back on each side. This muscle group when well developed gives the upper body that V shape. The lats originates from attachments along the spine and inserts with a large tendon to the humerus (upper arm bone) on each side of the body.
The erector spinae muscles of the lower back are like two thick columns of muscle on either side of your spinal column. The spinal erectors run from the base of your pelvis to almost the full length of your spine. However, they are most easily visible from the middle to the lower back.
Back Exercises
It is essential that when you do any exercise that you perform the movements correctly, if you don't you will receive less then optimum benefit from the exercise. It is very difficult to unlearn bad exercise habits, so it is best to learn the right exercise technique from the very start.
Tip - You can fully contract the lats only when you arch your back. When training your lats, arch your back in the fully contracted position of each lat exercise to maximize the peach contraction and get full lat development.
For each back workout pick 3-4 of these exercises and do 4 sets for each exercise. You can vary the exercises you do for each back workout.
Bent Barbell Rows
This is a basic back exercise that works the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, erector spinae, biceps, and the forearms.
Bend over at the waist and grab a barbell with your hands placed shoulder width apart. Keep a slight bend in the knees. Lift the bar with your arms straight. Keep your upper body at a 45-degree angle to the floor and arch your back.
Moving just your arms row the barbell into your stomach. Hold this position and squeeze your back muscles for a second to maximize the peak contraction. Lower the bar until your arms are straight, but do not let the barbell touch the floor in between each rep. Keep the tension on the muscles.
Seated Pulley Rows
This exercise is good for working the latissimus dorsi, spinal erectors, trapezius, biceps, and forearms.
Attach a narrow handle to a low cable pulley. Sit in front of the machine and grab the handle with both hands. Brace your feet and keep your knees slightly bent.
Lean forward and straighten your arms to stretch your lats completely. Hold this stretched position for a second. Then pull the handle into your stomach and sit up straight. Arch your back and squeeze your back muscles, hold this position for a second to maximize the peak contraction.
Deadlifts
This is one of the best power building exercises that you can do. Deadlifts work the spinal erectors, quadriceps, buttocks, hips, forearms, trapezius, lats, and abdominals.
Stand in front of a barbell with your shins very close to the bar. Feet shoulder width apart. Grab the bar with your hands slightly wider then shoulder width. Keeping your arms straight, bend your legs and flatten your back. Position yourself so it is like you are doing a squat with the barbell at arms length in front of you.
Pull the barbell off the floor by straightening your legs and torso until your body is completely erect. Pull your shoulders back. Then lower the bar back to the floor.
1 Arm Dumbbell Row
This exercise works the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, biceps, and the forearms.
Kneel on a flat exercise bench with one knee, you other foot placed on the floor beside the bench. Support your upper body by placing your hand on the end of the bench. With your other hand grab a dumbbell. Keep your back flat and let the dumbbell hang down at arms length.
Keeping your elbow close to your side, pull the dumbbell directly upwards until it touches the side of your torso. Squeeze your back muscles for a second to maximize the peak contraction. Lower the dumbbell back to the starting position. Repeat for the desired number of reps. Do the same for your other arm.
Lat Pulldowns
The lat pulldown works the lats, rear deltoids, biceps, and forearms.
Attach a straight bar to a high pulley. Grab the bar a bit wider then shoulder width. Sit down at the machine and place your knees under the knee pad.
Straighten your arms and let your lats stretch. Hold this position for a second. Arch your back and pull the bar down in front, try to touch the bar to your chest. Hold this position for a second to maximize the peak contraction. Straighten your arms to the starting position.
Back Muscle Anatomy
There are three primary muscles groups in the back - the trapezius muscles in the upper back, the latissimus dorsi muscles in the mid-back, and the erector spinae muscles in the lower back.
There are several other smaller muscles in the back, all of which will be developed by performing exercises that work the three main back muscles.
The latissimus dorsi (also known as the "lats"), lie across the middle section of the back on each side. This muscle group when well developed gives the upper body that V shape. The lats originates from attachments along the spine and inserts with a large tendon to the humerus (upper arm bone) on each side of the body.
The erector spinae muscles of the lower back are like two thick columns of muscle on either side of your spinal column. The spinal erectors run from the base of your pelvis to almost the full length of your spine. However, they are most easily visible from the middle to the lower back.
Back Exercises
It is essential that when you do any exercise that you perform the movements correctly, if you don't you will receive less then optimum benefit from the exercise. It is very difficult to unlearn bad exercise habits, so it is best to learn the right exercise technique from the very start.
Tip - You can fully contract the lats only when you arch your back. When training your lats, arch your back in the fully contracted position of each lat exercise to maximize the peach contraction and get full lat development.
For each back workout pick 3-4 of these exercises and do 4 sets for each exercise. You can vary the exercises you do for each back workout.
Bent Barbell Rows
This is a basic back exercise that works the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, erector spinae, biceps, and the forearms.
Bend over at the waist and grab a barbell with your hands placed shoulder width apart. Keep a slight bend in the knees. Lift the bar with your arms straight. Keep your upper body at a 45-degree angle to the floor and arch your back.
Moving just your arms row the barbell into your stomach. Hold this position and squeeze your back muscles for a second to maximize the peak contraction. Lower the bar until your arms are straight, but do not let the barbell touch the floor in between each rep. Keep the tension on the muscles.
Seated Pulley Rows
This exercise is good for working the latissimus dorsi, spinal erectors, trapezius, biceps, and forearms.
Attach a narrow handle to a low cable pulley. Sit in front of the machine and grab the handle with both hands. Brace your feet and keep your knees slightly bent.
Lean forward and straighten your arms to stretch your lats completely. Hold this stretched position for a second. Then pull the handle into your stomach and sit up straight. Arch your back and squeeze your back muscles, hold this position for a second to maximize the peak contraction.
Deadlifts
This is one of the best power building exercises that you can do. Deadlifts work the spinal erectors, quadriceps, buttocks, hips, forearms, trapezius, lats, and abdominals.
Stand in front of a barbell with your shins very close to the bar. Feet shoulder width apart. Grab the bar with your hands slightly wider then shoulder width. Keeping your arms straight, bend your legs and flatten your back. Position yourself so it is like you are doing a squat with the barbell at arms length in front of you.
Pull the barbell off the floor by straightening your legs and torso until your body is completely erect. Pull your shoulders back. Then lower the bar back to the floor.
1 Arm Dumbbell Row
This exercise works the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, biceps, and the forearms.
Kneel on a flat exercise bench with one knee, you other foot placed on the floor beside the bench. Support your upper body by placing your hand on the end of the bench. With your other hand grab a dumbbell. Keep your back flat and let the dumbbell hang down at arms length.
Keeping your elbow close to your side, pull the dumbbell directly upwards until it touches the side of your torso. Squeeze your back muscles for a second to maximize the peak contraction. Lower the dumbbell back to the starting position. Repeat for the desired number of reps. Do the same for your other arm.
Lat Pulldowns
The lat pulldown works the lats, rear deltoids, biceps, and forearms.
Attach a straight bar to a high pulley. Grab the bar a bit wider then shoulder width. Sit down at the machine and place your knees under the knee pad.
Straighten your arms and let your lats stretch. Hold this position for a second. Arch your back and pull the bar down in front, try to touch the bar to your chest. Hold this position for a second to maximize the peak contraction. Straighten your arms to the starting position.
